Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Sunday, May 11, 2008

The above image shows one of my creative aquascape project "Secret Shore". This is one of my favourites among the Creative Aquascapes, I have done in recent past. Unlike, Nature Aquascapes, my Creative Aquascapes are much short-lived and being prepared for the final photo session, from the first day.

I was looking at this archived image of one of my initial planted set ups. I thought it would be great to share the mistakes I made in my first attempts, with fellow aquarists, especially the ones who are new into this amazing world of planted aquascapes!

1. Choosing the plants: In those initial attempts, I have done a major mistake by picking up plants almost randomly, sometimes depending on the availability and off course by their look. I have never considered their compatibility with each other or their requirements. Choose the plants wisely. Know them before you plant them (or even before you get them). Identify the plants and know their requirements, habitats and nature.

2. Examining the specimens thoroughly: Examine all the specimens you get, very VERY carefully. Algae, snails and other pests and infections can travel smoothly to your tank, using these plants as carrier. Algae and snails are easy to find. Remove the Algae-infected leaves and pick snails with your fingers. But finding snail eggs are difficult, and off course much important, too. A tiny leaf covered by snail eggs can set hundreds snails loose in your tank. And most of the snails are vegetarian and have huge appetites. I'd suggest keep the newly sourced plants (must if the source is unknown or not so reliable) in a quarantine tank for few days and watch them closely, before you introduce them to your main tank.

3. Choosing the fishes: Choosing the right fish for a planted tank is also very important. Avoid compulsive plant-eaters and root-diggers, like gold fishes, Koi carps, Gouramis, African lake Cichlids. Also DO NOT keep large fishes, as the turbulance created by their body movements (also consider the filter flow rate that you need to have if you want to keep a large fish) will tear apart the delicate plants.

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

I was trying out Taiwan moss in my nanoscapes and I am quite satisfied with the outcome. Here are my few initial findings about this beautiful aquatic moss:

1. Taiwan moss or Taxiphyllum alternans grows and spread faster than Java Moss.2. They do extremely well if dosed with CO2. I have seen the entire group coming up with numerous brighter tip buds once I started adding CO23. Being more fragile and thinner than the common Java moss, Taiwan moss tends to be torn away quite often. Even if your filter creates little turbulance, you will find tiny pieces of taiwan moss all over your tank, tangled with other plants and happily growing!

Friday, January 25, 2008

Temporary light arrangement is one of the key elements of an aquascape. It creates the right ambiance. Pictures taken in actual lightings are usually flat, Though, they are good for technical documentation, but they often fail to create the right impact. When I take photographs of my aquascapes, I switch off the tank lights, room lights and all other sources of lights in the room and then set up the temporary light arrangement.

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Bacopa monnieri or Brahmi is very common through out India, as a medicinal herb. It increases memory and reported to improve intellect. It is also used to treat asthma, hoarseness, insanity and epilepsy. It is a potent nerve tonic and anti-anxiety agent.

According to Pankaj Oudhia, Society for Parthenium Management (SOPAM), "..it (Bacopa monnieri) is bitter, pungent, heating, emetic, laxative and useful in bad ulcers, tumours, ascites, enlargement of spleen, indigestion, inflammations, leprosy, anaemia, biliousness etc. According to Unani system of medicine, it is bitter, aphrodisiac, good in scabies, leucoderma, syphilis etc. It is promising blood purifier and useful in diarrhea and fevers."

Java Fern (Microsorum pteropus) can be grown very easily on a driftwood. This is one of the least demanding plants used in a planted aquarium. This is a low-light plant. Under intense light, the leaves tend to "burn" and develop large black areas around the edges.

EXCLUSIVE TIPS:If you have Java ferns in your tank, put a net around the inlet of your filter and it check regularly. You will find tiny Java ferns are stuck on the net. Keep them in a bowl or a jar beside your mail tank. Change the water as needed. Drop a dose once in while or when dosing your main tank. Within few weeks you will have enough to exchange or even sale.

In Natural Aquascapes we try to simulate an underwater scenario, sometimes specific to a particular biotope, sometimes a fancy combination of various species! But, every bit of the process is aimed to make the tank look like a natural underwater environment. But Creative Aquascapes are rarely aimed to simulate an underwater scenario. It's like creating any landscape with a glass tank filled with water, live aquatic plants, fishes and props like stones & driftwoods!

Another thing I noticed is, in Creative Aquascaping photographing your tank is also very important. Thematic light settings, translucent backgrounds with vignette, placement of props are also very critical issues, in Creative Aquascaping. It's not only about growing healthy plants or make your tank look like natural river bed! It's a search beyond that! It's about creating an ambiance, a mood or a moment.

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

GREAT AQUASCAPES

Are you an Aquascape artist? Do you like Aquascapeing? Do you have an aquarium that you prefer to call as an "Aquascape"?
Then, join the largest and most happening group dedicated only to Aquascapes, aquascapting and aquascape artists, on Flickr, Great Aquascapeshttp://www.flickr.com/groups/greataquascapes